The victims told police they went to the 1000 block of Park Street at 3:10 p.m. to buy synthetic marijuana from a man they knew as "Manny," police reports said. The man told police he had bought drugs from Manny numerous times in the past, Connellan said in a news release.

But this time, Manny approached the man and demanded money, police reported. Then, two men with Manny pulled out handguns and robbed the victims of their cell phones, Connellan said in the release. They also took the woman's purse, the release said. No one was injured, Connellan said.

The victims drove to the Rite Aid store on Butternut Street, where they called 911. A description of the suspects was broadcast out to officers, who quickly spotted a man matching Manny's description a short distance from where the robbery occurred, Connellan said.

Syracuse police say "Manny" was actually 17-year-old Luis Torres.

Torres, of Syracuse, was charged with first-degree robbery, a felony. He was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center. Torres is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Syracuse City Court.

The other two suspects are described as dark-skinned, black men, both about 6 feet tall and wearing white T-shirts. One man had dreadlocks and was in possession of a long barreled handgun, city police said. The other man had a small black handgun.

This was the first of three reported robberies within four hours Monday in the city of Syracuse, Connellan said. Nearly three hours after the Park Street robbery, police were called to the 1000 block of First North Street where a man walking home from work was robbed. Then, 45 minutes later, two men armed with knives kicked in the door to a Gertrude Street apartment and robbed three people inside.

"We don't know if they are related," Connellan said.

Anyone with information on any of the robberies can call the Syracuse police at (315) 442-5222.